In 1993 the Missouri Botanical Garden published a Catálogo de las Angiospermas y Gimnospermas del Perú. This preliminary checklist of Peru's plants included just under 1,600 species of orchids for the country. Subsequently, Bennett and Christenson began the ambitious undertaking of a modern inventory of Peru's orchids that they estimate to comprise at least 3,000 species. This has resulted in an open-ended series of Icones, or illustrations, that document Peru's rich natural heritage. They have so far illustrated 600 species including 154 that were new to Peru and 111 that were new to science - a 17 percent increase in the recorded orchids since 1993! Among the new records and species are many showy orchids with great horticultural potential.

The Icones is issued as loose-leaf pages for intercalation according to the user's preference or as two paper-bound fascicles with a perfect binding. One side of each page is occupied by a full-page botanical line drawing. The other side of each page includes place of publication, synonymy, a detailed description, known distribution, voucher specimens, observations on identification, comments on taxonomic questions, habitat, and flowering season.

The 600 black and white line drawings are available in three volumes:

Drawings 1-200 (in limited supply) ----------------------- $65.00

Drawings 201-400 --------------------------------------- $65.00

Drawings 401-600 --------------------------------------- $65.00

All volumes are issued as unbound loose pages in shrink-wrap. (In Peru only the senior author has bound volumes: available for an additional $16.00).

Wholesale orders of 5 or more of the same volume 40% discount.

Persons in Peru can visit the residence of David E. Bennett Jr. and make their purchase at Francisco Tudela Varela 229, Miraflores, Lima 18 Peru.
Telephone 40-2051. e-mail address <debenet@pol.com.pe>

Order directly from Dr. Eric A. Christenson, 1646 Oak Street, Sarasota, Florida, U.S.A. Make your check or money order payable to: Aurora de Bennett.

Order directly from the American Orchid Society Bookstore, 6000 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33405.